There are so many light strips, how to choose?
LED light strips generally consist of a substrate (flexible or hard bottom), lamp beads, and other accessories. The core part is the LED lamp bead. Although there are many kinds of lamp strips on the market, they can be summed up as follows;
Classification by voltage
High voltage light strip 220v
low voltage light strip
High voltage light strip
High-voltage light strips are the most common type of light strips. They are generally in the form of a very long bundle, ranging from 50 to 100 meters. They are basically fully filled with glue and can be cut by the meter at will (now there are 100mm cuts) (cut high-voltage light strip), with a power supply head and a tail cover, connected to the mains, and it can be used normally.
High voltage light strip
Advantages
The price is cheap and the models are abundant, including 5050 and 2835;
Powered by one place, it can be up to 50-100 meters long; equipped with a power plug, it can be directly connected for use;
It is simple in composition and easy to install, and is a favorite among electricians and installation masters;
Disadvantages
Safety: High-voltage LED light strips operate at a voltage of 220v, which is very dangerous. There is a risk of electric shock if people touch it directly;
Service life: Due to the high voltage, high-voltage LED light strips generate much more heat per unit length than low-voltage LED light strips, which directly affects the life of high-voltage LED light strips. Generally speaking, the service life of high-voltage LED light strips is within two years;
Cutting: Cut the entire meter. Some locations that require precise cutting are either too long or not enough, resulting in uneven brightness and hidden dangers of easy burnout;
Quality: The quality is uneven. If you are not careful, you may buy a junk light strip, such as low brightness, uneven light emission, and stroboscopic light strips;
Applicable scene
It is often used outdoors to outline the outlines of various buildings, build large-scale lighting groups, various indoor trough decorations, and beautify residential areas and homes.
Commercial hall
outdoor stairs
Low voltage light strip
Low voltage, compared to high voltage, generally uses DC power supply. The voltages are as follows: 5V, 12V, 24V, 36V, 48V. A transformer with a constant voltage output is required to provide stable voltage DC power for the light strip.
The principle of the light strip is to directly string the lamp beads together without resistors, transistors or ICs, and then connect them to the main positive and negative electrodes. The voltage of each strip is basically the same, but the total current needs to be set according to the rated current of the lamp, as well as heat dissipation conditions, etc.
advantage
It is highly safe. Most of the current light strips have a safe voltage of 24V, which is suitable for home use. It can be used on ceilings, walls, cabinets, under beds, etc., and it is also safe to touch directly;
No resistance, high luminous efficiency and uniform luminescence;
The cutting unit is small, usually 5cm per cut, and is highly practical. You can just cut it yourself when you encounter a corner;
Long service life, good quality LED low voltage light strips can be used for ten years;
shortcoming
The price is generally more expensive than high-voltage light strips, and the market is flooded. If you don't understand, you can easily be cheated by unscrupulous merchants!
The installation is a little more complicated and requires an additional transformer. When installing at home, you need to consider the hidden location of the transformer.
Low voltage light strips need to be used with a transformer
Low-voltage light strips generally have SMDs, such as 2835, and COB light strips. 2835 is the most cost-effective, and COB light strips have the best performance. If you have enough budget, just choose COB.
According to the light color temperature
The conventional color temperature of ordinary light strips is 2700-6500k. There are also smart light strips with adjustable color temperature and brightness, which are more practical;
Home use selection 3000K-3500K-4000K
Choose color temperature by style
3000K: warm color is orange, traditional Chinese style or main light is white and needs to be adjusted (if you like it first)
3500K: Warm and yellowish, Japanese style, new Chinese style, American style, French style (light color decoration)
4000K: Soft and moderate, minimalist, Nordic, modern, light luxury (extremely compatible, both light and gray/black colors are acceptable)
Choose color temperature according to scene
Bedroom: 3500K/4000K
Living room, dining room, balcony, aisle: 4000k
Kitchen, bathroom: 4000k
It should be noted that in the same space scene, the color temperature difference should be as uniform as possible. If the color temperature difference is large, it will cause dizziness and discomfort;
If you have different needs for color temperature, it is best to choose smart light strips, which can adjust color temperature and brightness. Compared with ordinary light strips, they are more practical and have more functions;
According to color rendering index
A color rendering index of 80 is sufficient. The larger the index, the better the light effect, but of course the more expensive the price;
If it is used as ambient light or auxiliary lighting, a CRI of 80 or above is sufficient. If it is used in an important location, such as a study or restaurant, it is recommended to choose a CRI of 90 or above;
According to scene requirements
It also depends on where the light strips are installed in your home. If it is a bathroom, it is recommended to use silicone light strips, which are waterproof and dustproof, highly flexible, and can be shaped at will. If it is for other uses without special needs, the above ones are completely universal and can be used without any special requirements. burden;
Bathroom silicone linear light
Commonly used low-voltage light strips at home include 2835, COB, smart light strips, and running water light strips. You can choose according to your needs.
